Dozens of vulnerable children allegedly preyed upon in Cairns, upending Queensland’s youth crime debate

Queensland police operation Uniform Kalahari has led to 12 people being charged with 263 alleged offences against 52 Cairns young people, many of whom are vulnerable. Illustration: Ben Sanders/The Guardian

In a youth detention centre on the outskirts of Townsville, detectives sit opposite a teenager, hoping she will talk to them about an alleged crime.

The police officers travelled 350km from Cairns for the interview, but they haven’t come because they think she has committed a crime; they suspect she is a victim.